KITCHEN GARDEN.

Auckland Star, Volume XXXI, Issue 64, 16 March 1900, Page 3

KITCHEN GARDEN.

The long continued dry weather has put a stop to all growth in this department unless in such places as have unlimited supplies of water. In such places the soil in which crops are growing should be thoroughly saturated with water at least once a week. Celery should be well attended to, as crops that are mow growing will be required for winter supplies. Another trench ought to be prepared to plant about the end of this month. Give liquid manure to the growingcrops, and earth up as may be required. Now is the best time of the year for preparing vacant pieces of ground for autumn cropping. The soil should be either trenched or dug to as great a depth as possible, and a.t the same time plenty of litter manure placed on it. On the quantity and quality of the manure now used the success of (he different crops will mainly depend. The manure should be placed at least six inches under the surface. Green manure fresh from the stables or cow shed is the best at this period. A large break of ground should be prepared for planting out both cabbage and cauliflower about the end of this or I the beginning- of next month. Gen- ! erally about the end of March, or the beginning of April, we receive heavy rains, and if the soil is prepared the planting should be done at once after !the rain falls. Another break ought ,to be prepared for planting- out the ! young strawberry plants, if possible, about the beginning of April. If ! planted fhen the plants will have a chance of getting well established before the heavy rain of winter sets | in. Tomatoes will require frequent attention in the way of water to keep np on active state of growth, as without growth little fruit can be expected.' Pinch back superfluous shoots and tie up fruiting ones to their supports. . All late planted or sown crops: See that the soil is kept moist, or the sun's rays will soon scorch them Cucumbers, marrows, pumpkins, etc.; Pinch back superfluous shoots and give sufficient water to keep the plants growing. Sow a small patch of cauliflower and cabbage seed for suceessional planting. Keep the soil they are sown in in a moist condition. All vacant pieces of ground not required for autumn crops should be dug, and at the first favourable occasion sown in oats, which, if not required for o-reen feed, should be allowed grow tc a height of about a foot and then dug back into the soil, where they will make a capital manure. Ocasionally break up the surface soil between the rows of growing crops with the hoe to keep it free and open. The debris of all spent crops should be cleared off the ground, and well dusted with sail and lime to kill all insect pests.